Union To Turn Down Delray Endorsement

April 30, 1985|By John Kennedy, Staff Writer

DELRAY BEACH — Leaders of the union seeking to represent city workers plan to reject the administration`s offer to support their organizing efforts.

The refusal stems from the city`s demand that two bargaining units be organized to represent blue- and white-collar workers, said Wanda Stimpson, a representative of the International Brotherhood of Firemen and Oilers Local 1227.

``We`re not consenting to two units. We still want one,`` Stimpson said. She said the union has scheduled a Wednesday press conference to notify the administration.

Earlier this month, City Attorney Herb Thiele said the city would support a June 14 vote among employees on adoption of the two bargaining units.

The city`s proposal would have required organizers to drop their demand that 22 job categories be included in the union. The contested positions are either managerial, supervisory or confidential, the administration says.

``We see a really difficult road ahead because of the disparity of interests between the secretary in City Hall and the man who mows lawns,`` Thiele said.

Stimpson said union officials next week would ask the city`s Public Employees Relations Commission to schedule a hearing to review the disputed job titles.

Though she said the union agreed that some of the contested categories might be excluded from the unit, ``about half of the 22 (titles) are still in dispute.``

Thiele, however, warned that the proposed hearing will delay organizing efforts. That could jeopardize the union`s ability to represent workers in budget talks scheduled to begin in June, he said.

The administration will open negotiations that month with the Fraternal Order of Police and the International Association of Fire Fighters.